OK Marathoners and Half Marathoners...A Question... (Read 1086 times)

Just curious how close together the mile and marathon races are. While this may not be unique, it's probably very unusual that I once set PRs at both distances only three weeks apart, first the mile, then the marathon.

I'm not sure yet, the marathon is in March, and last year the mile was in October, but I heard that they were considering moving the mile to the spring time. If I don't PR on both I'll be sad (the marathon will be my first and I did really bad on my first mile).

For me, PRs at various distances tend to come in clumps. I've never followed a specific plan to race a fast mile, 5k or 10k; typically I just follow a marathon plan or I'm just doing base mileage so when I get into marathon training (whether or not I eventually run that marathon) I get into somewhat better shape than I am during the base running and then the shorter distance PRs all come as a side effect.

Unless you've previously focused on the mile, I'd guess that solid marathon training should put you in a good place for a mile PR as long as the mile isn't within a couple of weeks after the marathon.

MJ5

Chief Unicorn Officer

posted: 12/12/2012 at 1:33 PMmodified: 12/12/2012 at 1:35 PM

This past year my races ranged from 4 one mile races to 2 half marathons and everything in between. The only time I made a serious noticeable change in my training for a specific distance was for three of the miles, which were a series and there was prize money involved. My 5K training (which is my favorite distance and main focus) was good enough to get me a 1:36 half.
I don't do marathons and I think just doing lots of slow-ish miles makes you slower in the 5K and shorter distances like the mile. Piling on the miles with no speedwork will only get you so far.

Unless you've previously focused on the mile, I'd guess that solid marathon training should put you in a good place for a mile PR as long as the mile isn't within a couple of weeks after the marathon.

Ah, but that's the kicker. I'd been training primarily for the mile and other short races. That PR race won the university indoor intramural race for me which was one of my goals that year. It was not a soft time compared to my other race times. Based on AG ratings it ranked better most of them.

2015 Goals: Run IAT50K, run first 100K, and exceed 100K in a 24-Hour race

Ah, but that's the kicker. I'd been training primarily for the mile and other short races. That PR race won the university indoor intramural race for me which was one of my goals that year. It was not a soft time compared to my other race times. Based on AG ratings it ranked better most of them.

This year I have run from 5ks through a 24-hour ultra. Often the 5ks, 5-milers, 10ks are local events that I enjoy the atmosphere of and run to support local charities and the local running community. Occasionally I will target one as a goal race, but I'm just as likely to run it as a tempo-ish segment of a long run.

asdfsdaaas

posted: 12/12/2012 at 10:08 PMmilktruck censored this post on 12/12/2012 at 10:16 PM.

I set all of my PRs from the mile up in a 2 month span bracketing my marathon PR. Of course it was marathon training which often included sets of intervals at and a bit faster than 5K pace. Then again I am a slow-twitcher and never had much success with classic mid-distance training or racing. Last time I ran a 800m I think I ran a 2:23....2 hours after a 16:17 5K. Em-barassing.

"If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does. There's your pep talk for today. Go Run." -- Slo_Hand

I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills

runmomto3boys

posted: 12/13/2012 at 9:45 PM

So far, only a marathon and only marathons planned. I have no interest in racing shorter distances.